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<br />DELTA-MO\TROSE .1RE.1, COLORADO
<br />Ravola Series
<br />'Ihc soils of the Ravola series are deep, w'cl] drained,
<br />and moderalcly fine lesUu•ed. They formed mt alluvial
<br />fans in uniform, calcareous alluvium derived from gray
<br />and olite sedimentary rock. Soils of this series are
<br />moderately extensive in the Area, principally in the
<br />northeastern part.
<br />P.atola soils hayc a surface ]a}'cr of light broWnish-
<br />_ray or darl: gl:•t}'ish-brown, granular clay loam 4 l0 7
<br />iilchcs tbich. 'T'hey have a subsoil of light brownish-
<br />gra}' to ~ra}'ish-brown loam that has little or no struc-
<br />ture. Tlic substratum, which begins at a deplh of L or
<br />1~ inches, is light brownish-gray to darl: grayish-bron•n
<br />cnlcareons loom. 't'he depth to bedrocl: normally is GO
<br />inches or more.
<br />'T'hese soils arc highly susceptible to erosion. The or-
<br />ganic-matter content is ]oW, and the structure is unstable.
<br />Typical profile of Payola cla}' IOaln, Oo0 feeC north
<br />and-50 feet nest of the southeast corner of sec. 1, T.
<br />la S. R. 05 TP. (Delta Count}•)
<br />.11*-0 [o T inches, clac loam; li;ht broo~uish oraS t"~~,5 G/'?)
<br />when drp, darl: gracish brown (2.LY -1/^_) when
<br />moist; wodera[e. medium, granular and crumb struc-
<br />ture; slightly hard when dre, very friable when
<br />moist; calcareous; plI 5.0; clear, smooth boundary.
<br />C-~ to Go inches. loam; light brownish graS (''.SS G/^_) when
<br />dre, gracish brown (2.vS 5/2) when moist; mvsice;
<br />hard when drS, friable when moist; calcareous; pEl
<br />s.^_.
<br />Lt some places the surface ]aver is loam or fine sandy
<br />loam to a depth of G or 7 inches. The structure is Weak
<br />in some places at a depth betncen t and 15 inches. In
<br />some places :tncl at variable depths, there are accumula-
<br />tions of secondary calcium carbonate.
<br />Ravola soils are coarser textured than Billings soils,
<br />Which they conuuoulc adjoin. They arc }'clloWCr m hue
<br />than Genola soils. 'Phcir parent material, ttnlil:e that
<br />of Orchard soils, contained little or no material de-
<br />rived front basalt.
<br />Ravola soils are productive. The Halite grasses aro
<br />saltgrass, alkali sacaton, basin lcildryo, and Western
<br />Wheatgrass. Big sagebrush, rabbitbrush, and grcasewood
<br />are prominent brushy plants. If irrigated, Ravola soils
<br />are n-ell suited to most crops commonly grown in the
<br />Area. A fen areas arc used for orchards.
<br />Ravola clay loam (0 to ? pm'cent slopes) IRp.-Phis soil
<br />is at. the lower end of gently slopping alluvial fans. It
<br />has a profile similar to the one described as typical of
<br />the R:n'ola series. Most of the acreage is in tlic north-
<br />eastern part of the r\rca.
<br />If irrigated, this soil can be used successfully for
<br />tilled ct•ops. It is susceptible to erosion, p:u•licularh
<br />~,ullting. (Capability wnt ~%Ic-1 nonirrigated; IIc-1
<br />irrigated)
<br />Roca: Outcrop and Rough Broken Land
<br />Rock otttcro~t and P,ough broken land IRrI is made up
<br />of shallow- soils and bare rocl: outcrops on the steeply
<br />sloping sides of mesas. The higher parts consist of
<br />massice cli(Is of Cretaceous sandstone, and the ]ow'cr
<br />parts of mixed colluvium. The slope rmtgc is 10 to •]0
<br />percent. Included in the areas mapped are soils ]il.-e
<br />those described as typical of the Tl:atessilla series and
<br />a~
<br />senfterecl pocl;ets of Sluttano soils. The main acreage
<br />is in the westrrn ];artof the.\rca.
<br />This land t}'pe supports a fair cuter of grass, sage,
<br />and cactus, :uul n scutcrin_ of juniprr. It is suitable
<br />only as rangy 1'he steep slopes and :u'eas of Rock out-
<br />crop restrict the movement of litestocl: and limit the
<br />amount of forage available to them. T;rosion is a mod-
<br />erate hazard, nod ~•ullics are common. (Capahilit}' unit
<br />VIIs-3 nonirrigated)
<br />Roclc Outcrop-Travessilla Association, Rolling
<br />Roclc outcrop-Tr;tcessilla assocaation, rolling (RtClis a
<br />complex of bare rocl: outcrops and shallow Traycssilla
<br />soils on the Lop, rim, and upper part of steeply sloping
<br />ntcsns. The higher parts consist of massice cli0's of
<br />Cretaceous s;uulstone, and the lower parts of exposed
<br />beds of shale and sandstone, colluvium, and shallaW
<br />soils. 'The slope range is 10 to -10 percent. The main
<br />areas are in the Western part of the Area.
<br />This complex is unsuitable for tillage. It is moderalely
<br />good for range and supports a fair to good cover of
<br />uatiye brass, sage, and cactus, mul a scattering of juni-
<br />per. Cattle can mote about W _=ome extent on the ]on'er
<br />slopes but not mt the esc:u•pmc.ntlil:e upper slopes. The
<br />];u'_~~c areas of Rocl: outcrop limit the amount of forage.
<br />Included in mapping were afen- areas on gentler slopes
<br />Where the soil pattern is ]ugclc a mixture of sandstone
<br />outcrops vul shallow' Traycssilla soils. These areas pro-
<br />vide better gr:tzin~* than ~cnerally is available, but the
<br />acreage ]s small. ~Capablhty unit VIIs-o nonirrigated)
<br />Roclc Outcrop-Travessilla Association, Steep
<br />Rocl: outcrop-Travessilla association, steep IRrEI is a
<br />complex that is 90 percent bare rocl: outcrops and shallow
<br />1'r;nessilla soils. Included in the areas mapped aro
<br />deeper soils of Utc Luhon series, which hate a strong
<br />accumulation of calcium carbonate. 'i'he slope range is
<br />40 to more than GO percent. This complex is moderately
<br />extensive in the .\rca and is near the eastern boundary,
<br />cast of the town of Montrose.
<br />'T'his complex is unsuitable for cultivation. It sup-
<br />ports a lair weer of native grass, fortis, and brush suit-
<br />able for Wildlife. The escarpments, steep sloppes, and
<br />rocl: outcrops restrict the movement of livestock. JJro-
<br />sion is a moderate hazard. (Capabilit}' unit ~rIIIcs-1
<br />nonlrrlgatecl)
<br />Rough Broken Land
<br />P.ough brnl:en l:uul IRuI is on the steeply sloping sides of
<br />mesas. It COI751515 of exposures of scdimcntarc shale
<br />and sandstone, extreme]}' gravelly alluvial material, col-
<br />hn'ial debris, and shallow soils. Typically, Orchard
<br />and Dlesa soils hate formal in the gravelly alluvium,
<br />Which is at the upper part of the slopes. AIidWay on
<br />the slope arc almost b:u'ren exposures of scdintcntar}'
<br />shale and sandstone. At the base arc shallow soils. ex-
<br />liosures of sedimentary rock, and colluyial dchris. The
<br />slope rank is 10 to GO percent. This ]and t}'pe occurs
<br />Cluroughout the Area but is mainly in the Western and
<br />southcaslcrn parts.
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